- The NCA disrupted global money laundering networks and arrested 84 people.
- Blockchain traceability is critical in discovering illegal operations.
Amongst a major find, dismantling multi-billion dollar money laundering operations by the UK National Crime Agency is another significant operation. This comes under the operation known as Operation Destablise, the NCA has managed to arrest 84 people who are connected with the two prominent networks: Smart and TGR. Russian speakers have mostly run both of these networks, involving themselves in washing money for a variety of crimes, including ransomware attacks, espionage, and drug trafficking.
As a result of the operation, NCA, in coordination with the U.K. Metropolitan Police, the U.S. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), DEA, and the FBI seized over 20 million Euros worth of cash and cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain’s Role in Tracking Illicit Funds
Over 30 countries had involvement with Smart and TGR networks. Authorities also linked them to other Russian oligarchs involved in various criminal affairs. Among the most significant persons arrested is Ekaterina Zhdanova, leader of Smart Network, who OFAC had already sanctioned in 2023. Blockchain technology has become very instrumental in bringing to the limelight these operations. In this manner, blockchain transaction traceability helped authorities trace the flow of funds from cryptocurrencies into cash and even demonstrated how the same funds were channeled through various illegal operations.
It all started with ransomware ransom payments on the blockchain, unfolding the complex methods that these networks utilize gradually. According to Will Lyne, Head of Cyber Intelligence at the NCA, “Whereas these groups were looking to obfuscate their activities, the inherent traceability of blockchain has been priceless in unraveling their global operations.”